there's the catastrophe in japan, in the united states they immediately want to say, what is the president doing? what is he saying? what's the policy? what's the action? 30 years ago that would have been one of the questions, but it wouldn't be a central question. presidents have -- it's amazing what they can do. i think obama has more power than bush had, for instance. >> and yet i believe it's your view that we know less about our presidents, less about the inner workings about the white house. why is that? is that our fault? >> well, it is in part our fault. and i think the message managers in the white house get better and better and more skillful. that it's a barrier often, and you have to -- god knows how much time i spent breaking down -- breaking that logjam in the white house saying i'm doing this book. i got these stories. i got these memos. i got these notes. ok. we'll answer questions. it's not something where they're standing there on pennsylvania avenue saying to the reporters, come on, we're dying to have you hold us accountable for what we're doing. >> you do manage to bre